There are people who have a sense of style that's unmistakably cool — someone like Jack Kerouac in the 50s or Miles Davis in the 60s. I think of Joseph Dirand as the interior design equivalent of coolness for the current decade. The Parisian designer combines mid-century influences with forms that pull from varied 21st century references — everything from technology to bikes to tailored menswear.
For such a young and relatively new-on-the-scene designer, this avowal of coolness might seem like a risky statement to make, but I'm not alone. Wallpaper Magazine called him out in their 2010 Design Awards (they honored his interior designs for the Habita Hotel in Monterrey, Mexico), while French Architectural Digest named him in their 2008 "Icons of Design" awards.
His rooms are minimal; usually employ a neutral palette of black, white, and gray; and have an airy, arty sensibility. Design elements that tend to appear repeatedly include furniture by modern greats like Prouvé and Saarinen mixed with vintage signage, sculptural pendant lamps, the occasional Georgia O'Keefe-style cow skull mounted to the wall, and suit jackets as accent pieces, a la Joseph Beuys.
For a deeper look into the designer's portofolio, visit his site.
SHOWN ABOVE
• Habita Monterrey, Mexico (1-2)
• Hotel Distrito Capital, Mexico City (3-4)
• Home in St. Girons, France (5)
• Holsnyder, Paris (6)
• Balmain, Paris (7-8)
• Interior in Malta (9)
• 5th Avenue Apartment, New York City (10)
MORE INFORMATION
• Joseph Dirand Architecture
• Apartment Therapy | 2 Mexican Hotels by Joseph Dirand
• Contemporist | Distrito Capital Hotel by Joseph Dirand
• Diane Pernet | Interview with Joseph Dirand
• Wallpaper Magazine | Best New Hotel 2010: Habita Monterrey by Joseph Dirand and Landa Arquitectos
Photos: Adrien Dirand / Joseph Dirand (1, 5-10) Habita Monterey (2), Hotel Distrito Capital (3,4)
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Can anyone tell me anything about that stereo system mounted on the wall in the first picture?
Does anyone know about the make/model of the chairs in the first photo?
That stereo would be the coveted Braun HiFi, which you can see on the wall of its designer here:
http://www.nowness.com/day/2009/11/30/205/less-is-more
The chairs in the first photo are Oase chairs designed in 1958 by Wim Rietveld (his Dad was the more famous Gerrit Rietveld).
That Braun stereo is much coveted by me now! And it's probably likely to remain so. Does anyone happen to know a model number? I'm having trouble finding any specific information on-line.
Okay - found the Braun units in question:
L 450 flat loudspeakers
TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder
TS 45 control unit
There's also the PCS5 turntable which looks great.
I doubt that you will be able to find this stereo as it is no longer being made. I would recommend buying the "Less and More, the Design Ethos of Dieter Rams" book and covet it in book form. However, I wish you luck in your search to find one. That would truly be an amazing find.
http://www.amazon.com/Less-More-Design-Ethos-Dieter/dp/B002JW2U82
Are these spaces homes or retail establishments? The look is certainly sleek and clean but is rather undomestic.
omgosh - I love this place.
The light fixture in the 4th photo looks like the top of a Flonase bottle. Anyone? Anyone?!?
mostly hotels and stores...keep in mind Balmain is a fashion house that sells $8000 jackets and $1000 ripped tee-shirts for those who don't know what that is.
It's still really nice though.